Fastening for trunks and boxes



(No Model.)

0. MARK.

FASTENING FOR TRUNKS AND BOXES.

Patented Aug. 25, 1885.

w a n 2% 1: i, M? W m w WM N PETERS Photo-L ho irnn STATES PATENT DFFICE.

CLAYTON MARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FASTENING FOR TRUNKS AND BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,948, dated August 25, 1885.

Application filed March 21, 1884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAYTON MARK, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastenings for Trunks and Boxes, of which the following, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front view of a trunk-fixture embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section in the plane of the line as m of Fig. 1.,viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow there shown. when the catch or bolt and the latch or loop are engaged; and Fig. 3 is a likesection showing the partsin position when the catch and latch, or loop are disengaged.

Like letters of reference indicate likeparts.

A represents the upper plate, one or more of which I attach to the front part of the lid of the trunk.

Bis a fixed or rigid hookshaped catch or bolt depending from the plate A.

O is a slide moving vertically in a pocket or recess, a, in the back of the plate A. This slide is arranged, as shown, above the hook or catch B, and may be retained movably in its place in various ways; but I deem it preferable to make therein a slot, 1), and to suspend it upon a pin or stud, c, projecting inwardly from the plate A, and to apply upon the end of the said pin a washer or disk, (I, by which means the said slide will be connected movably to the plate A and retained in its position.

To facilitate raising the slide 0, I make upon it a flange or finger-lift, c, by preference.

D represents one of the lower plates intended for attachment to the body of the trunk, and E is a latch or loop having therein a slot or opening, f, to receive the hook-shaped end of the catch I3. The latch E is pivotally connected to the plate D, and is rendered yielding by means of a spring, F, applied to the plate D and resting on the lower portion of the latch E, the upper part of the said latch being adapted to be drawn outward or forward and away from the catch B. Thelatch orloop E has thereon the lateral ribs or shoulders g 9, upon which the lower ends or feet of the slide 0 rest when the latch is in its closed position, as indicated in Fig. 2, thus supporting the said. slide in its raised position. \Vhen, how- (No model.)

ever, the latch E is drawn out or away from its engagement with the catch or bolt B, the slide 0 drops down, so that its lower portion is directly behind the ribs 9 9, thus holding the latch E temporarily out of engagement with the catch or bolt, and permitting the trunk to be opened. As soon as the lid of the trunk is raised the latch E, owing to the action of the spring F,is returned to its original position,but does not then engage the catch B, as the latter is drawn up or raised by raising the lid. \Vhen the lid is lowered, the shoulders g g are in position to meet the feet or lower ends of the slide 0, and it is thus raised to its original position; but the catch B on lowering the lid strikes and engages the latch E, but in doing so does not tilt it out far enough to permit the slide 0 to drop in the manner described.

It will be perceived from the foregoing description, and from reference to the drawings, that one desiring to open the trunk may do so with facility, as the latches E E may be easily drawn from their engagement with the catches or bolts, and that the latches E E will be retained in that position by the gravitating slides, thus freeing the hands so that the lid may be raised. It will also be perceived that the lid will be locked automatic ally on closing the lid.

In the example shown I have exhibited some features of construction which, though preferable, I have not described with particularity,as they are not absolutely essential to my invention. For example, the particular means shown and described for the purpose of retaining the gravitating slides in connection with the plates A A, and the means described for connecting the latches pivotally to the plates D D, and for rendering the said latches yielding,may be changed or modified without a departure from my invention and I donot, therefore, here intend to restrict myself to those features of construction, nor to mere form or configuration; but

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is r In a trunk-fixture in which there is an up per and lower plate, one for attachment to the lid of the trunk, and the other for attachment ICO to the body thereof, the combination of a fixed In testimony that I claim the foregoing as catch or bolt, B, on one of the said plates, a my own I hereto affix my signature in presyielding latch or loop, E, pivoted to the other enee of two Witnesses.

of the said plates, and a slide arranged to move CLAYTON MARIL 5 behind the said loop as the latter is drawn Witnesses:

from its engagement with the said bolt, sub- F. F. WARNER,

st-antially as and for the purposes specified. J. B. HALPENNY. 

